This is a fictional TV show. I think the U of Utah is a bit too sensitive.

There's a difference in use when it comes to using a logo for commercial purposes versus using it for an "artistic" reason. That's why it'd be a much bigger deal -- and a much difference case -- if a Big Love character was wearing a University of Utah sweatshirt on the cover of the DVD box set than if they use it within a prop on the show.

If I were the U of Utah, I'd pick my battles wisely. Not only is this bringing far more attention to the issue than ignoring it ever would, but a trouble making and attention hungry producer/writer could easily create a polygamist-promoting evil character who just happened to be a Dean at an unnamed large state school in Salt Lake City and there's not a lot they could do about it.

These type of lawsuits are file a lot. The same thing happens with high schools when they use college logos on their football helmets, etc. The University must protect it's trademarks or they risk losing them. In other words, what Lincolnparadox said.

As a U of U grad I have to disagree Lincolnparadox. The U of U goes out of its way not to be a Mormon institution. Most Mormons consider it to be slanted against the Mormon church and would rather go to BYU.

The LDS Church has been distancing themselves from polygamy for over a century. Yes, the practice of polygamy is still practiced in secret by many would-be Mormons in small towns in Southern Utah, but this practice is condemned by the LDS Church itself.

The University of Utah is a staunchly Mormon institution, and probably doesn't want to be associated with a TV show about radical Mormon polygamists. Also, it probably doesn't want to be associated with a show on HBO. It's too naughty.

Is the use of the UofU letterhead harmless? Probably. But there is a trend among many universities now to trademark their proprietary symbols. This is to protect the good name of their schools (I still have a Calvin peeing on the CSU ram t-shirt) or to insure that official university products make money for the university. If you don't protect a trademark, then you will lose your protections.

Just an FYI-they call themselves the U of U. I agree, considering the things they usually are in the news about, this one doesn't seem like a big deal at all. But it would also be super easy to cut it out of future broadcasts.